Are commercial/promotional licenses included in the membership price?

No. Since commercial/promotional type licenses are more of a case by case purchase, they will be an additional fee and not included in the subscription price.

What songs are included into the membership price?

Any song that is not tied to a major label or publisher is included into the membership price.

Is there anything else included in the membership price?

Yes, we will also launch slideshow creation software and a slideshow and video hosting site.

What is the purpose of the slideshow creation software?

The purpose of it is to be able to create a project on the same site that you will host it. It limits the amount of sites that you have to go through to create one project.

What kind of hosting will you have?

We plan to host on Amazon/ AWS.

What resolutions do you support ?

For our initial release we plan on supporting 360p, 720p, and 1080p. Obviously the options presented to a viewer will be based on the quality of the original uploaded video. We are looking at supporting 2K/4K resolutions and 360/VR videos in the future, but those likely will not be released in 2017.

What upload codecs do you support ?

Our encoding pipeline will accept a wide range of common container formats, video formats, and audio formats. So if you stick with something standard, such as MP4 container with h.264/MPEG4 video and AAC audio, then you should have no worries.

What kinds of file sizes will you allow?

Up to 1 terabyte.

What do you mean by video hosting?

When you think of hosting, think of Youtube.

Do we have to use your hosting site, or can we keep using Vimeo or Animoto?

You can use whichever hosting site is easiest for you.

Can we use the hosting site if we use music from another site?

Yes, as long as you can provide proof that the music was licensed legally and correctly.

Do you have to be a member to use SongFreedom?

In order to purchase a standard license, you must be a member. Commercial licenses are still available for purchase outside of the membership.

Can non-members still browse the music library?

Yes! Non-members will be able to see which songs we have available, but they will only be able to listen to 90 seconds of the song.

Is there a limit as to how many songs I can download?

No! You just have to use songs that you download in a project within 6 months or the license will no longer be valid.

How do I get started?

First, register as a member. Then, you'll have access to our entire music library, slideshow creation software (coming soon!) and video hosting site (coming soon!). After that, you can choose your song and license it. It’s really that simple!

How do I know if my purchases includes both versions (instrumental and vocal) of the song?

There are two icons when you click on a song. The microphone icon means that the vocal version is included and the guitar means the instrumental version is included.

Do I need to obtain licensing?

If you're using a sound recording in a movie, commercial or other visual work, then the answer is yes. SongFreedom licenses include synchronization and streaming rights so you can use music in your video and post it online.

What makes an artist a “premium” artist on your site?

Any artist that has songs tied to a major label or publisher is considered mainstream or “premium”. Artists like Phillip Phillips, Lady Gaga, The Lumineers, etc.

What if I am outside the United States?

SongFreedom has obtained worldwide licensing rights, but on rare occasions, there may be territorial issues.

Is there a way to tell which songs are going to be considered premium?

It will be denoted with a pink “P” on the right-hand side of the song.

Can I still purchase single-use commercial licenses even if I am not a member?

Yes, even if you are not a member you are still able to purchase single-use commercial licenses.

Can I license more than one song in one video?

Yes, but you will need to license each song separately.

Can I use my song license more than once?

No. One license is valid for one project. Meaning, if you license a song for Project A, then you will need to license the song again for Project B. You can do this easily from your profile page by clicking on "New Project".

Do I need to obtain a license if I acknowledge the artist?

Yes. Acknowledging the source of the copyrighted material is not a substitute for obtaining a license.

Can I just use part of the song or remix it?

You may use part of a song or the whole song; just NO mashups or mixing 2 songs together into 1. We have to respect what the artist created and the integrity of the song. Other than that, have fun making videos to our music!

How many hard copies do I get with my license, and can I make extra hard copies (DVD/Blu-Ray/USB stick)?

You will automatically receive the following number of hard copies with your purchase:5 Hard Copies:-Wedding/Live Event & Portrait-Churches-Personal Use-Podcast-Real Estate Video-Schools/Universities10 Hard Copies:-Corporate/Promotional-Crowdfunding Campaign-Film-Non-Profit (Other than schools and churches)Need to make more DVD/Blu-Ray/USB stick copies? No problem! Each additional copy is only $5 per piece. Just email us at info@songfreedom.com with the song title and number of copies needed, and we can issue you an extended license.

Are commercial/promotional licenses included in the membership price?

No. Since commercial/promotional type licenses are more of a case by case purchase, they will be an additional fee and not included in the subscription price.

What if I don’t sign up for the subscription? Will my licenses that I purchased in the past still be valid?

Yes! All of our licenses are valid for the perpetuity of the video that it was used in.

Can I use Premium music for promotional use?

Premium songs are unavailable for commercial use through our site; a custom license would be required. Custom license quotes for Premium songs begin at $25,000 USD. You can request a custom quote for your project by filling out our form at the following address: http://songfreedom.com/customlicense.

Do I get both the vocal and instrumental version of a song when I make a purchase?

Yes, you do! If we have both the vocal and instrumental version of a song available on our site, you will get both in your download bundle when you make a purchase. This allows you to use both versions of a song in one single project. These two versions combined make up your license!

Do you license for student films?

Yes, we do! We understand that students may not have quite the same needs or budget as a professional filmmaker. We have catered to these needs by providing individual pricing for our student filmmakers. You can license for this by clicking "Film" under our License Types section of our Filter Songs feature. Then, just select Student Films!

Do you license for short films?

We have you covered there! Short films fall under their own license type on our site. You can select the short film license by selecting "Film" under License Types in our Filter Songs button.

Do you provide broadcasting licenses?

Absolutely! Our one-click prices are for online-only usages. However, we can create a custom license for your broadcasting needs. We will just need the details of your project in order to get a quote to you. If you are interested in a broadcasting license, just visit our custom license page at the following link http://songfreedom.com/customlicense, and we will get started on that for you!

What type of license do I need if I want to highlight my work?

You will need a Corporate/ Promotional License for this. This is due to the fact that the intent of the video is to promote your business or bring in new clients. It would not be considered a project specifically commissioned by an individual client.

How do I use my credit?

If you have a credit that was for a “Wedding/ Life Event & Portrait License” that is $34.99 and under, your songs are now included in your membership, so the credit is no longer valid. If your credit is for a “No Constraints License”, let us know, and we will add this to your account for a Premium Song.

What licenses are included in the membership?

All standard licenses are included in the membership: “Wedding/Life Event and Portrait”, “School/University”, “Podcast”, “Personal Use”, “Real Estate” “Churches”. Commercial licenses are available for single use purchase.

Which songs are Premium?

Premium songs are denoted by a pink “P” on the right hand side of a song.

How much are Premium songs?

Premium songs are $10.

Is there and additional fee for mainstream songs?

Mainstream songs will be an additional $10 per download. Examples of mainstream artists are Lady Gaga, The Lumineers, American Authors, etc.

Is the hosting site or the creation software an additional cost?

No! Those are included in the membership price.

What is the best way to find a song for my project?

You can begin your search by selecting Songs under the Browse All section of the left-side menu. You will then be able to narrow your search by things like Genre, Mood, Vocals, Instruments, and Track Length.

If you would like more specific help in choosing the right song for your project, just let us know either via the Chat (available Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm EST) or send us an email at info@songfreedom.com, and one of our dedicated and knowledgeable Support Specialists would be glad to assist you!

What should I do if I get a claim on my YouTube video?

You can send any claims you receive to claims@songfreedom.com. We will reach out to the content holders to get these released for you.

I am trying to sign up for FyrFly and am getting an error code?

Try updating your billing info on the current SF website first and then try!

What if I am a Musician, Manager, Label, Or Publisher that wishes to put my music or the music I represent on Songfreedom.com?

We are currently not accepting any new music submissions.

Does Songfreedom provide blanket performance rights?

If you are strictly looking for blanket performance rights for playing music in a public setting, please visit ascap.com, bmi.com, or sesac.com, for more information.

What is a Streaming License?

If you have already created your visual work and you want to add music to it and then stream your new creation on your website, you will need a streaming license. Songfreedom can provide this type of license.

What is a Synchronization License?

If you want to use a sound recording in a visual work, you need a synchronization license (music is "synched" to the video). Songfreedom can provide this type of license.

Combatting Copyright Infringement: The Legal FAQs

What is a license?

Music clearance and licensing is the process by which one formally obtains the rights to use a piece of music in any given project. There are two inherent copyrights in every piece of recorded music. First, the words and music make up the composition, which is controlled by the music publisher(s). There may be only one publisher or as many as eight or nine publishers for any given composition. Secondly, the actual recording itself, formally referred to as a master or sound recording, is controlled by the master rights owner(s). It is rare to see a master recording with more than one owner, but not unheard of. Depending on the usage that you want the music for, permissions, licenses and fees may be required from just the publishers or both the publishers and the master rights owners. For instance, if you re-record a song that has already been commercially released (i.e. a "cover" version), without changing the lyrics or fundamental character of the song, you would only need a statutory mechanical license, which is compulsory as set forth by U.S. Copyright Law. This type of license is the opposite of one that is voluntarily granted by individual copyright owners. If you choose to use someone else's master recording, you must also obtain a master rights license from the master rights owner. For some qualifying usages, such as a non-interactive digital audio transmission like certain webcasts, a statutory license may be obtained from SoundExchange, an independent non-profit performance rights organization designated by the U.S. Copyright Office to act as the administrative agent for the collection and distribution of digital performance rights statutory license royalties. For any digital usages not covered by SoundExchange, and any usage involving an audio-visual or reproductive element, such as a film, a corporate DVD, an internet download or an audio CD compilation, master rights licenses must be obtained from and arbitrary fees must be paid to the master rights owners.

What is a Copyright?

A copyright is a form of protection provided by the laws of the United States to the authors of "original works of authorship," including literary, dramatic, musical, artistic and certain other intellectual works. It is illegal for anyone to violate any of the rights provided by copyright law to the owner of the copyright. For more information on copyrights please visit copyright.gov/circs/

Google - "Our policies for US and non-US copyright complaints: It is our policy to respond to notices alerting us of content which appears on Google Video and which is alleged to infringe copyright. This document describes two processes: one for infringement of a United States copyright, and one for infringement of a copyright outside the United States. Please select the appropriate process for your complaint and follow the instructions below. What we do: Upon receipt of proper notice, we will remove or disable access to the video, which is alleged to be infringing copyright. We may also terminate the account of the user who has submitted that content, and we will terminate the accounts of repeat infringers. What happens next: If we do remove or disable access to a video, we will, wherever possible, get in touch with the user who submitted it so that they are aware of the issue. We will pass them details of the notice (including contact information) so that they can take the matter up directly. Inside the United States, we will comply with the processes of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), discussed below."

YouTube - "Content Verification Program: YouTube is committed to helping copyright holders find and remove allegedly infringing content from our site. To that end, we have created a Copyright Verification Tool that assists copyright owners in searching for material that they believe to be infringing, and providing YouTube with information reasonably sufficient to permit us to locate that material. This tool is designed especially for copyright-holding companies to issue multiple removal requests. Individual notifications may be submitted by following these instructions. If you already have a YouTube account, you can apply for access to this tool by filling out the YouTube Content Verification Program Application, printing it, and faxing it to the fax number shown on the printout. This form identifies your authorized agents and acts as a legal affirmation that you hold copyright to the material about which you will notify YouTube. If you do not currently have an account, please create an account, after which you can access the Content Verification Program Application."

Vimeo - "VIMEO respects the intellectual property of others, and we ask our users to do the same. VIMEO may, in appropriate circumstances and at its discretion, terminate the accounts of users who infringe the intellectual property rights of others. VIMEO will remove infringing materials in accordance with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act if properly notified that content infringes copyright. In order to upload to Vimeo you must own or hold all necessary rights (copyrights, etc.) to the videos and follow the rules set forth in our Community Guidelines. If you do not follow these simple rules, we reserve the right to delete your uploaded content and/or your Vimeo account without warning."